FREEPORT

With a lot of heal points on the line, the Freeport High School boys basketball team knew a win over rival Yarmouth was worth a lot.

While the game was there for the taking, the Falcons failed to capitalize, dropping a 43-36 loss in a Western Maine Conference clash on Friday.

“ We knew this game was worth a lot of points,” said Freeport coach Bill Ridge. “ We would have liked to had this one, but we still have some point-worthy games coming up.”

Yarmouth wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Aiden Hickey sank a shot from behind the arc for an immediate 3-0 Clippers lead.

The Falcons had a tough time scoring points. The home team was cold, missing eight of its first 11 shots, managing only seven first-quarter points and trailed, 11- 9.

“ We came out a little slow,” said Ridge. “ We weren’t hitting our shots and were getting beat on the boards.”

A quick trey from Ethan Sclar to open the second quarter pulled Freeport within one. Another 3- point basket from Sclar and another from Ericksen Shea, and the Falcons appeared to have found some rhythm.

But Yarmouth kept the Falcons in its rearview mirror, and after a brief 18- 18 deadlock, the Clippers led throughout the rest of the quarter behind solid free- throw shooting and took a 22-19 advantage into the break.

Yarmouth’s Noah Eckersley Ray was 4- for- 6 from the charity stripe, netting six points in the first half.

Shea had eight first-half points, while Sclar picked up six for the Falcons.

Another slow start to the third quarter for Freeport as Yarmouth slowed the pace, holding the ball by passing it around to kill the clock and finding an open shot.

Caden Middleton sank a late trey to give Yar mouth ( 8- 4) a 31- 24 lead after three quarters. Freeport only managed a pair of field goals in the five-point quarter.

A Hickey basket from behind the 3- point line increased Yarmouth’s lead to 12, 36-24 just minutes into the final stanza and Yarmouth looked well on its way.

A Kaleb Barrett trey and a Toby Holt basket quickly brought Freeport within seven.

Following a pair of Clippers turnovers, hoops by both Holt and Sclar found the Falcons only trailing 36- 33 with 3:43 remaining.

“We played a very good fourth quarter,” said Ridge. “ We got a little more aggressive on defense and hit our shots.”

After an Eckersley-Ray hoop, Barrett sank another trey, bringing the home crowd to its feet and cutting the deficit to two, 38- 36 with under three minutes remaining.

“I wanted to get a good shot off,” said Barrett. “I got a couple of good looks and it worked out.”

It was as close as the Falcons got. Eckersley- Ray controlled the final three minutes. Already having a strong fourth quarter, the junior raked in six rebounds in the last quarter, three on each side of the court.

“He played big for them tonight. He’s a superb athlete and leads that team,” said Ridge of the guard.

Eckersley-Ray finished with 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Hickey chipped in with 10 points, while Jonathan Torres added seven. Nolan Haggerty added five points to go with his eight boards and two blocks.

Freeport was led by Barrett’s nine points while Holt, Sclar and Shea each had eight points apiece. Barrett, Sclar and Shea each had a pair of 3-point baskets in the loss.

“It was tough to lose to Yarmouth, but we’re on to Waynflete,” said Barrett.

The 7- 4 Falcons will host the Flyers on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Yarmouth 43,
Freeport 36

Yarmouth — 11 11 9 12 — 43
Freeport — 7 12 5 12 — 36
At Freeport
Yarmouth — Jonathan Torres 3-1-7,
Aidan Hickey 3-2-10, Noah Eckersley-
Ray 4-6-14, Ashanti Haywood 0-0-0.
Nolan Haggerty 2-1-5, Gavin Hamm
0-0-0, Jake Rogers 1-2-4, Jason
Lainey 0-0-0, Caden Middleton 1-0-3.
Totals — 14-12-43.
Freeport — Toby Holt 4-0-8, Ericksen
Shea 3-0-8, Colby Wagner 1-0-3,
Nate Thomas 0-0-0, Ethan Sclar 3-0-
8, Kaleb Barrett 2-3-9, Shea Wagner
0-0-0, Caleb Salter 0-0-0, Gabe Wagner 0-0-0. Totals — 13-3-36.
3-point goals — (Y) Hickey 2, Middleton; (F) Shea 2, Barrett 2, Sclar 2,
C. Wagner.
Records — Yarmouth 8-4; Freeport
7-4.
Up next for the Falcons — Tuesday
at home vs. Waynflete, 7 p.m.